Let’s be honest – does the world need a band like Waiting For Sirens? No, it probably doesn’t. Listening to the band’s debut EP will give you a sense of deja vu because they do sound like a lot of other bands, mainly American ones. But I’ll give the band credit where it’s due and their Jack’s Mannequin-meets-My Awesome Compilation style is delivered in a relatively British way, meaning they don’t get completely overrun by their (arguably better) American counterparts.
If you play this type of ultra poppy music you need to have hooks and melodies in abundance and Waiting For Sirens tick every box when it comes to getting you to sing along. If you’re an old-skool MAC fan you’ll whoop with delight at ‘Her Hero’, which is a cross between ‘The View Is Amazing’-era MAC and the final song on The OC. And while it may often be too sickly sweet for some, you cannot help but nod and clap along to the likes of ‘Boys About You’ and ‘The Most Sincere Sarcastic Apology’.
This EP is well crafted, well produced and full of hooks. It’s not overly cute or contrite, even if it borrows heavily from a number of other bands. Thumbs up for execution, if not originality – but if you like poppy pop-punk bands, look no further.